studley



I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. E. STUDLEY.

PAN BLOWER.

Patented Apr.22, 1884 Vknasses:

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J. E. STUDLEY.

PAN BLOWER.

No. 297,810. Patented Apr. 22,1884.

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JAMES E. STUDLEY, OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN.

FAN-BLOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,310, dated April22, 1884.

Application filed May 5, 1883. (N0 model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. STUDLEY, of Oshkosh, in the county ofWVinnebago and State of Visconsin, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Fan-Blowers, of which the following is a description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aside view, partly in section Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional view of theshell or case cut through the line at a, Fig. 1, showing the fantherein, partly in section and partly in elevation.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in both figures.

It is a fact well known to all familiar with the use of blowers, howeverand for whatever purpose the same may be used, that the power requiredto propel the same is very great, and apparently in marked disproportionto the efficiency of the blower. From various pneumatic experimentsandlong experience in the use of exhaust and pressure blowers, I amconvinced that this fact is the result of two primary causes-via, first,the eddies produced in the air-currents under the usual mode of forcingthe same from the induction to the eduction pipes, and a consequentdamming up of said currents at or near their point of exit; and, second,that the fan itself by reason thereof is necessarily unbalanced when inlabor, and is therefore unsteady in its motion. Another objection isthat more or less noise is produced by the ordinary fan, arising fromsimilar or kindred causes.

The object of my invention is to overcome these difficulties and toproduce a fan that may run smoothly and evenly without noise and at aminimum expenditure of power.

I accomplish said object in the following manner: The tendency ofacurrent of air, when forced into or against other air, either at rest orin motion, is to disperse, forming eddies varying in proportion with thecondition and direction of movement, if any, of the air into which it isforced. It is therefore highly essential that in order to prevent toogreat an impingement of the air-currents with the atmosphere into whichthey are thrown, and the consequent friction arising therefrom, saidcurrents should be separated by some positive means until a point isreached at which they may be brought together and caused to proceedtherefrom in as nearly as possible parallel lines.

It is obvious that the tendency of an aircurrent must always be in astraight line, except as it is'varied by surrounding causes, and themeeting of another current at an angle thereto must tend greatly tobreak its force; hence it follows that less power would be required toproduce a given force at a given point of two commingled currents ofair,'if allowed to mingle in parallel lines, than if brought togetherobliquely.

With these principles in view my invention consists, preferably, inproviding as many openings in the shell of the blower as there areblades upon the fan, the number varying according to the size andpurpose for which the blower is used, and having said openings soarranged as that each blade may discharge its air simultaneously withthe others. Leading from said openings I provide a series of fixedcurved guides or partitions arranged, respectively, in a volute form inthe shell of the blower, and having their commencement at the peripheryof the fan, each advancing forward and outward until a point is reached,when all are located substantially at equal distances apart, from whencethe curve of each is reversed and said partitions are continued inparallel lines, saidcontinuation terminating in the eduction-pipe. theperipheral chamber or shell, partitioned as described, being enlarged ina regularly-increasing proportion until said eduction-pipe is reached;or, if preferred, pipes from one or more of said opcnings may be carrieddirectly from the shell in the manner hereinafter shown, and used asseparate discharge-pipes. WVhen not less than six blades are used uponthe fan, three openings at equal distances from each other, and more inproportion as the number of blades are increased, may be used, providedthey are so disposed with reference to the blades of the fan as tobalance said fan while in labor, without essentially varying theprinciple of my invention; but I prefer having an equal num the air fromboth sides of the case or shell and through two or more induction-pipesoneach of said sides. To prevent impingement of these opposite currents,and the consequent friction formed thereby, I place a circular disk inthe center of said fan, which serves to separate said currents untilthey emerge from the respective openings. I also inclose the centralpart of the fan in a circular case or cylinder so formed as to preventthe entry of air. This causes the air-currents to be carried near theperiphery of the fan, where the same has a great and more uniformvelocity, which serves to prevent the formation of a vortex in thecenter and the noise resulting therefrom.

My invention is more particularly described as follows:

In the drawings, A represents the outer shell or case of my improvedblower, constructed in the usual manner of cast or wrought iron platesprovided with flanges a and bolts a, for fastening the same to eachother. Seats A A (better shown in-Fig. 1,) for securing the same inposition when in use and reversing it as desired, are bolted to saidcase in the manner clearly shown in the drawings.

On each side of the case are circular plates B B, provided with flangesb b, by which they are secured by suitable bolts, 1), to said shell A.The plates B B are pierced by suitable openings, O O G C, provided withflanges c c c 0, to which may be secured induction-pipes, as indicatedin the dotted lines proceeding therefrom.

Suitable brackets or arms, D D, preferably made in the manner shown, arebolted to the plates B B, in which are supported, by means of thetunnions e e, secured by jam-nuts e e, the rings E E. At opposite pointsthrough the rings E E, and at right angles to the trunnions e e, Iinsert like trunnions,ff, one of which is shown in Fig. 1, which serveto support the journal-bearings f'f, the points of contact on one sidebeing more clearly shown at f f Fig. 2. The shaft F, on which may be.placed one or more driving-pulleys, as desired, at one or both ends,turns in the bearings f f, and, passing through openings in the centerof the plates B B, supports the fan G, which is preferably securedthereto by setscrews 9 g, passing through flanges projecting at eitherend from a cylinder, G, which I prefer to make considerably shorter thanthe case, to allow a freer flow of air to the fan.

Extending radially from the cylinder G, to which the same are secured inany convenient manner, are arms g, formed from angle-iron, to which thecurved blades 9" are secured. I prefer to make said blades, which areformed from thin sheet-steel or other metal, of a width at the bottom tocorrespond with the length of the cylinder G, the same being graduallywidened at their outer extremities, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, untilthey nearly attain the width of the case A.

Surrounding the cylinder G, and dividing the fan G through its center,and in a plane at right angles to its axis, I place an annular disk, H,to which the blades of said fan G are riveted or otherwise secured, andwhich may be provided with asuitable flange for riveting the same to thecylinder G. To secure the best results, said disk should be of the fulldiameter of the fan.

Around the fan G, I place partitions K. constructed in a volute form,(more clearly shown in Fig. 1,) which are secured to the plates of thecase A by means of flanges and rivets or bolts, each partition havingits commencement as close as practicable to the periphery of said fan,and extending outward therefrom in the form of a volute, thecommencement of each being the same distance from that of its successoras the distance between the vanes of the fan G. As shown, thisarrangement of the partition forms a series of openings, at equaldistances apart, from the fan-chamber into separate and distinctreceiving chambers or channels, arranged as shown in the case.

It is obvious that one or all of the partitions K may be carrieddirectly and separately from the fan-chamber through the shell, toconnect with a separate eduction-pipe, as indicated in the dotted linesshown at L L L, Fig. 1; or two or more may be combined in a separateeduction-pipe, as shown in dotted lines at M in said figure, theremainder of said outlets communicating directly with the horizontaleduction-pipe N, as commonly used; but in case only a part of saidopenings connect with separate eduction-pipes, and the remainder arecontinued, as shown, to emerge in the main discharge-pipe, it is obviousthat the first should commence at such a point as will enable theeduction-pipe to be carried out at the beginningof the peripheralchamber ofthe shell A, as at 0, Fig. 1, and consecutively thereafteruntil as many as desired are carried out. i

ried forward by the curved floats or vanes of the fan entering theconduits between the partitions K, and continuing therein until theyemerge in parallel lines.

It is evident that the journal-bearings f, being supported by means ofdouble trunnions, as described, must always accommodate themselves tothe variations of the shaft F, while the fan G, receiving air fromopposite sides of said shaft and discharging the same uniformly and atconsecutive points equally distant from 297.s1o a each other,andconforming, respectively, with the blades upon said fan, must serve topreserve a uniformity of movement and a perfect balance. of said fanwhile the same is in labor. This, by preserving a regular and unvaryingflow of air through the eduction-pipes, prevents the formation of eddiestherein, thus reducing the friction and lessening the power required tooperate said fan, while the cylinder G, by preventing the formation of avortex, enables the fan to run without noise.

I do not confine myself to the form of partitions so fully extended, asshown, for the reason that shorter partitions extending outward from theperiphery of the fan, the end of one preferably passing the beginning ofthe next, may give good results, provided the points of beginning of theseveral partitions are concentric with the axis of the fan, equallydistant from each other, and correspond in number or bear a fixedproportion to the blades of the fan, said partitions serving. as thusarranged,to balance the blades of the fan while in motion, and toinitiate the direction of the air-currents.

It is obvious that this device may operate equally well as an exhaust orpressure blower.

Should the fan require repairs, the same may be readily taken out of theshell by removing one of the plates B B.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

1. A fan-blower provided with a series of partitions within the shell,arranged, respectively, in volute form, the beginning of said partitionsbeing at equal distances from each other and from the axis of the fan,respectively, and corresponding in number to the blades of the fan,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A fan-blower provided with aseries of partitions within the shell,arranged in a volute form and terminating in the eduction-pipe inparallel lines, substantially as described.

3. A fan-blower provided with a series of partitions within the shell,arranged, respectively, in volute form, the beginning of said partitionsbeing at equal distances from each other and from the axis of the fan,respectively, and corresponding in number or hear ing a fixed proportionto the blades of the fan, whereby the latter may be balanced while inlabor, substantially as described.

, 4:. A fan-blower in which the air is received from sideinduction-pipes provided with a cylinder surrounding the axis of thefan, and to which cylinder the blades of said fan are secured,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. A fanblower provided with a seat upon the bottom and top,respectively, whereby the position of said blower may be reversed andthe same adapted for use as an exhaust or pressure'blower, substantiallyas described.

6. A fan-blower provided with a series of partitions within the shellbetween the fan and peripheral chamber, the beginning of said partitionsbeing at equal distances from each other and concentric with the axis ofthe fan, and corresponding in number or bearing a fixed proportion tothe blades of the fan, whereby said fan may be balanced while in labor,said JAMES E. STUDLEY.

WVitnesses:

GEORGE 13. M00. HILTON, DAVID LAWSON.

